Siegfried & Roy Urged to End Tiger Act

LAS VEGAS — The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals held a rally Saturday outside the Mirage hotel-casino to urge entertainers Siegfried & Roy to retire their felines after Roy Horn was nearly killed by a tiger during a performance.

Carrying signs reading, "The Strip Is No Place for Tigers" and "Big Cats Big Danger," about two dozen demonstrators gathered near the entrance to the resort's large Siegfried & Roy marquee.

The group also held placards displaying well-wishing messages for Horn, who remained hospitalized in critical condition Saturday.

He was recovering from massive blood loss, two surgeries and a stroke after the Oct. 3 incident.

"It's not against [Horn]," said Nancy Coleman, 41, of Las Vegas. "It's against animals being used for entertainment, for profit."

But Barbara Pieslak, a 58-year-old tourist from New Hampshire, said the protest was inappropriate.

"Roy is in the hospital fighting for his life," she said. "They care about these animals more than anybody."

After the protest, MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman issued a statement thanking those in the animal-welfare community who have acknowledged the pair's role in protecting and preserving animals.

"Their role in educating and encouraging the public to take a similarly active role in conservation has been the hallmark of their lives," Feldman said.